Need Advice

10-15-2006, 10:49 AM

Ok, this is for those of you who have been to DL and WDW, I have been to Disneyland many times and enjoy it very much, but I have never been to Disney World, with all the great things there, I would think it could be just as good if not better than Disneyland. So...I need advice about Disney World...

Ok, this is for those of you who have been to DL and WDW, I have been to Disneyland many times and enjoy it very much, but I have never been to Disney World, with all the great things there, I would think it could be just as good if not better than Disneyland. So...I need advice about Disney World...

are you looking for advice about anything in particular? the general advice i give to anyone i know who goes is do EVERYTHING!!

November 1996. Surprise birthday trip

April 1998

April 2000

November 2003

February 2005

November 2006. My 21st birthday trip to the Grand Floridian

"I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse". Walt Disney

Comment

if you have time do the parks twice - some say MGM isn't big enough for 2 days but we always to the parks over 2 days so we don't feel rushed and see everything we want to.

PLAN PLAN PLAN ahead - go online to the WDW site and get the park maps - then see where everything is and read the descriptions - that way you'll know you really don't want to see Little Mermaid but really want to see Star Wars. you'll get the times of all the shows and can plan your days accordingly.

Make reservations early. depending on when you are going you may find that some restaurants are booked for the day you want to do that park.

Speaking of restaurants - get the dining plan - it's something like $35 a day for adults (don't know for kids since my daughter was only 7 months) it's a 2 fold bonus. 1 - you don't have to worry about bringing money for meals except for breakfast (we usually went to McD's because it was right by our hotel and we didn't like All Stars breakfast). 2 - Taxes and tips are included in the dining plan as are snacks so your really good to go for the entire day.

Plus not all but most places are on the dining plan so you can try places you either though were out of your price range before or hadn't thought of trying (although this is your first time so everything is new).

In AK you MUST have the pulled pork sandwich from the Flame Tree Cafe - it's really good.

if your budget can swing it stay moderate or deluxe - in my own opinion POP is the only good value resort - we were very disappointed in the Movies when we stayed there in May.

Do extra hours in the morning instead of the evening - seems like they aren't enforcing the "guests at the hotel only" rule when it comes to the night and you'll find that tons of people who aren't staying on site wandering around after the park closes and its extra hours for hotel guests. we didn't see any difference in crowds and gave up on staying late. Next time we go we'll go the extra hour early instead.

what else can i say......

take lots of film and or video - snap everything and delete later - I've seen pictures on here and said - oh dam i should have shot that but didn't think about it until i saw that picture.

hummm.... that's all i can think of right now.

OH YA - most important.

This is your vacation - enjoy yourself - I've seen way too many people get all bent out of shape because the world doesn't revolve around them and they have to wait in line for an eternity (5 minutes).

Comment

If you have never been to WDW, make sure you plan on staying for an entire week. There is so much to do and see that anything short of a week, you are just fooling yourself... Just a lil bit of trivia I heard once when I was in WDW, you could pick up the entire DL park and fit it in the parking lot of the MK at WDW. Thats how big the property is in FL.

Anyway, I would suggest ordering one of those Disney vacation planning DVD's theat I see them advertise on the TV. It should help you out with gett you accustomed to the area and what to do and see... Also, their operators that help you when you call 407-W-DISNEY, are the best.

Comment

I have never been to Disney World, with all the great things there, I would think it could be just as good if not better than Disneyland...

Ha! Are you in for a rude awakening.... DL is a much much better park over the MK at WDW. And while other areas of WDW are very unique and enjoyable for being unique to WDW, bigger does not mean better. But hey.. you may just enjoy it just find, but would love to hear your opinions of WDW afterwards.

Comment

Just a lil bit of trivia I heard once when I was in WDW, you could pick up the entire DL park and fit it in the parking lot of the MK at WDW. Thats how big the property is in FL.

It's funny. I've heard that factoid a lot, but what does it really mean? If you look at an aerial photograph (try google maps) of WDW, you'll notice the MK parking lot is roughly the same size as the MK (definitely bigger than the onstage area). So one could just as easily say, you can pick up the entire MK and fit it inside of the parking lot of...the MK.

Check out the ratio of parking to developed space for Downtown Disney at WDW. I would guess there is about 1.5 times as much parking for DD than actual DD.

It's amazing how much of WDW is taken up by parking lots. I think their future is going vertical with parking.

Comment

our city, Toronto, is covered in parking lots. We spent the day at a brand new mall yesterday and the parking lot is twice the size as the mall.

I said what they should have done was to make 2 or 3 levels of parking UNDER the mall - that way the land is saved for condo's, houses, park area and the shoppers have quick access to their cars in bad weather without having to go out side. but builders don't think that way - i just don't understand why.

Comment

One suggestion is not only about the parks, but make sure to get to the Adventurer's Club and DisneyQuest. And take a walk around some of the resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk, Yacht & Beach Club).

Comment

I recommend if your staying on site to go to the Extra Magic Hours. Some parks open early or close late.
Also, make sure to get FASTPASSes! they are really god help to get on rides, like Test Track, Space Mountain, and others.